Beauty's Only Skin Deep(A Bullet is to the Bones)

Hello, let me describe exactly, who I am? I'm an agent for the International Secret Service, simply refer-ed to as the ISS. A espionage organization granted permission, by many nations to assist their own law enforcement unit without questions. And, I am one, of their top five operative trained and skilled in espionage and tracking, of threats to the nation.

I am Dion Francis, Cassavettes, on the trail, of a assassin know only, as the Black Assassin. Who has eliminated many undercover agents, from many countries and regions? The problems in catching this elusive suspect no one knows much about this person. If , he or she is acting alone. All the operatives that has gather any information about this Black Assassin hadn't lived long enough to speak.

And, I plan not to be the next on the "Elimination List", as I uses every connection in the world to achieve my goal, of capturing this Black Assassin. Who has earned a reputation as the best within the trade?

Sunday, Dion Cassavettes, the tan skinned Italian agent, of the ISS , has attended services, at the local Catholic Church, with his daughter, Di'onna Cassavettes. Who's visiting her father while her mother's on a modeling assignment? As, much as he would love to leave her behind when he accept assignments sometimes it's impossible.

Even, in the country, of Puerto Rico, he has found their time enjoyable. And, it's through her he has met a beautiful partial blind artist name Ava Maria, Bright. Many in this Latin country are truly amazed, by the talents, of this illustrator. Who some claim were blinded when shot close range with the temple, of her skull?

"Miss Bright, I want to introduce you to my dad." The smilingly five year old, says with a beam, of joy. "The blind artist reaches out to the suave dress agent as , if she knows exactly, where he will reach for her hand. "Mister Cassavettes, my pleasure to meet you." Explaining that she knows his daughter, from her friendship with her son. Who is a member, of the Catholic church they have been attending while on vacation.

"Pleasure, is mine. Miss Bright." He states calmly. While amazed that this lady has the talent and skills to out do many sightly people. She's five feet two and demands respect just, by the way she control the moment. Which he observes she stays in control of, while talking. "Mister Cassavettes, don't concentrate so hard on my partial blindness. Because, I don't." She explains laughing which putting all parties at ease.

"I will, Miss Bright..But, if you don't mind call me Dion?" Born Donald Francis Giovanni, but operate under the code name , of Dion Francis, Cassavettes. The ISS, has went through great height to create a untraceable past to the background, of their agents. Some accepts and others decline the invitation to be found. Cassavettes accepted the name change for protection, of his immediate family members. Although, his mother and father still call him Don Francis.

He purchase a sketch, of his only child, from the illustrator. And, after concluding their greetings they depart o other destinations requiring their time. With, the top agent, of the International Secret Service, it's with a meeting with this agency director. Sometimes, called chief, but born Petrach Merrill, a half English and Italian born gentleman. Who was agent within the organization he now operate? . And, with Dion Cassavettes , is his daughter. Who call Petrach Merrill, godfather? While the agent's talk with his director his daughter is kept company, by the agents assigned to protect Petrach Merrill.

"Dion, from all information coming to the agency all avenues, of the Black Assassin points to Puerto Rico." Explaining that he just might be the next agent on her hit list. "So, you think it's a woman?" Cassavettes inquires.
" Possible..remember women are just as dangerous than men. So, keep your guard up , at all times."

Advising, the top rank agent that he will keep his goddaugther. While, he pursue the target that has set their sights, on eradicating agents, of different espionage units. With, nowhere to start, but from scratch Dion Cassavettes visit the beach, of Puerto Rico to concentrate with less pressure on his mind. While, he misses his daughter, he's aware that many times it's for the best that he doesn't have full custody, of her.

It's on the beach, where he runs into Ava Maria, Bright. "Miss Bright, I see we meet again in strange , of all places." He is stared at, as if ,he was a robbery suspect in a line-up. "Miss Bright, is everything okay?" Still, he gets no reply. But, notice, a smile coming across the young woman face. "Sir, I'm sorry. I was just enjoying the view, of your physical self." She explains nicely.

"Also, I'm Eva Marie, Bright..I'm her twin." Explaining, except for her sister visionary problems they still twins under the skin. "I''m just glad you spoke, Miss Bright." Describing, he thought she was suffering, from a medical condition. Hours has passed with them enjoying time and conversation together. Where, he is also offer a invitation back to her rented expensive hotel room? Which, he accepts as quickly, as it is given.

Anything free, he needs to see. A motto he has used for love making and spies alike. "So, Dion. How was I?" A comment that throws him for a lost, of words , from the beautiful half Puerto Rican and Black woman. "You rate yourself?" "Don't we all, Dion?" While still waiting for a reply, from Cassavettes.

"Okay, you were a two." "Yeah, right!" She quick to respond. "We Afri-Ricans rank high up on the physical assessment test." "Afri-Ricans?" A term lost on the Italian agent. "A term that I call myself and my sister. Who can't stand it." He shakes his head without speaking. But deep inside he's amazed that she doesn't embrace her Puerto Rican heritage the way he idolize his.

"You can't figure me out, Dion? Don't worry that's the mystery that surrounds me." She exclaims with pride as they kiss each other goodbye. After enjoying one another time. While in thought as he walks the streets, of Puerto Rico, he scope over the files that contains some form, of information about the Black Assassin. And, like walking blindly, he walks right into escalating weaponry taking place in the streets. Before, he could react , he feel the heat, of injector's burning through his skin. And, he could have reacted quickly. He still would have been in danger because he made a personal decision to leave his assigned weapon behind.

What saves him, from the worse, of the attacks is his alertness to brave the shooting to hide in the nearest door way? Although, the windows were shatter. Many assignments, he has visited and never being injured, by the best. But, here he sits with blood streaking, from his side with the owner's, of the restaurant attending to his wounds.

He brave the agony. He brave the pain, of the wound. And, has nothing, but the concerns, of his lone child on his mind. He doesn't want her to fear hearing that her father's has been wounded as, he has the restaurant owner secretly dial, an unlisted number. One, that's is a direct connection to Petrach Merrill, his agency director. Who advises the owner that assistance is in route?

He would attend, but his god-daughter wouldn't understand the graveness, of the medical condition. Hours, of worry has cease as Dion Cassavettes, is relaxing and enjoying the conversation, of fellow agents. "Yeah, I,m wounded, but not defeated." Explaining, he's responsible for being careless with his safety. He receives wishes , of health, from those in the know. And, that''s just those, who needed to know the information?

"For, a second Dion. I thought this Black Assassin has landed another operative to their accomplishment." "Petrach, that was the last thing to come to my mind." Explaining, he just venture into a rivalry between two rivals.

"Cassavettes, what proof you have?" The agency top decision maker interview him, from an interrogator perspective. "Proof?" He thinks, of the question's with seriousness and realize that he has true answer to give his chief. "Least, you didn't tell me your guts was speaking to you!"

"You could have spin the word guts with some sympathy, Merrill?" But, he has now things to question about his wounds that he first thought was innocently done, by his carelessness. "Cassavettes, just give it some thought?"

After, a few days, of recreation and relaxation Dion Francis, Cassavettes question many perspectives, of his shooting. Still, he can't conclude a thought, from the situation that contributed to him being shot. Words, of comfort is toss his way, from Ava Marie, Bright. Who , he speaks too, as she paints in the lobby, of the hotel he is a guest of.

"Who would want to harm you?" "I can't begin to guess?" He explains, the shooting while leaving out certain factors about it. "You must have some hateful enemies?" Ava Marie, Bright speaks with concern in her voices. Which, the agent is alerted too? "Don't worry, Ava. Eventually, this will vanish and I'll be better, from it.".

He speaks without an ounce, of fear in his voice. Which she detects. "You're not afraid, of much?" "Not, really. In this world that contains us..it's our right to stand strong." After, a few more minutes, of laugther they part way with Dion Cassavettes, more alert with every move he makes. Even, to the point that he notice the assigned body guard, by Petrach Merrill, following his every move. Not that he's made because he understands protocol in his business. He relax back and listen to his admiration, of the Temptations singing "Beauty Only Skin Deep" on the disc player. And, while in thought process he thinks, of all the people he have came in contact before his shooting.

Wounds that still hurts, but he can handle. So, in love sad, as can be, because a pretty face has got the best, of me. He sings with each phase that David Ruffin utters, until some thing hits him hard.

"The Twins.. Ava and Eva?!" He thinks like a detective trying to put clues together to solve a murder. "Not once have I seen them together..it always apart." He revisit in his mind comments and other factors about the two sisters. And decides to revisit them both. First, Eva Marie, Bright, only to be informed that she has moved out, of the hotel that he was, at days before. "Strange?"

Soon, he back, at the location he met Ava Maria, Bright, the partial blind twin sister. "Moved?" He reads the sign in black letters stating that she has decided it time to close her shop. "Funny, she never mention it earlier to me." He whisper quietly to himself. But, determine to locate the two sisters to solve answers to his questions.

Through informants and sources, he uses occasionally, he learn the whereabouts, of Eva Marie, Bright. The Afri-Rican professing sister, of the phase that confused him days ago. He slowly follow her every move and notice something very familiar in her company. "Ava, walking cane, but where is she?" He wonder, until he see that she never appears when her sister departs.

He follow further and notice other factors when Eva Marie, Brights departs the taxi. Once, where Eva Marie, Bright was ,now appears Ava Marie, Bright with the walking cane. And, not once did the other twin sister depart the cab.

"Impossible!..I been played, by the impostor of impostors, and never suspected that they were the same." He laugh, as the one and the same person enter, a business that some federal agents usually gather for conversation when in Puerto Rico. And, is shocked when he hear gun fire erupting inside the establishment.

"What the Hell?!!" Retrieving his assign weapon and in pain he race to the restaurant establishment. With weapon drawn, he peeks inside and notice some agents wounded and some dead, from the attack. And, before the agents could react to the surprised attack the assailant was gone.

"Guys..what happen?!" "A female just unloaded on us without warning!" One, of many agents says in simultaneously tone. "Was she half of mix heritage?" Cassavettes ask, as if he doesn't know the answer. "That exactly, what she were." "Do you know her?" One, of the agent inquire.

"We all know her, by her code name, of the Black Assassin!" And, he directly states that she will be capture before she can ever leave the country, of Puerto Rico. He guarantee it to his fellow agents, even if she must be killed in the process.

Quick to vanish into the streets, of Puerto Rico, the target, of his hunt can't be easily located. He stop to ask the various citizens he encounter. None is, of any assistance. It's , as if she knows more about tricking her opponent than he was trained to out smart them. But, still he Cris cross ail over the city for this well trained assassin. Who sole purpose seems to be eliminating espionage agents.

He comes upon a group, of small children and over hear them discussing a woman, of interest. "Youth, would mind describing this lady you're speaking of?" And slowly, they give a good detail right down to the walking cane that he spotted the suspect with earlier in the day.

"Now, she's pretending to be Ava Maria." He whisper quietly while trying to decide the reasons why? "Still, she's playing the duo role." Either way, she will be bought into custody don't matter, what role she pretending to be.. "I just need to know why?..when I'm aware that she's the same.

As, before when he was lost in thought he's unaware, of the high scope weapon aimed directly, at his fore head, from the top, of the building directly across, from him. Least, it appeared that way until, he turns and fire off toward that direction. While knowing the bullets won't reach his target but will distract them long enough to take their sight off, of him.

Which exactly, what happen, by the time the shooter gain his senses and aim again toward his direction. Only to realize that Dion Cassavettes is no longer there. Gone, but not forgotten or is the person that Cassavettes is seeking. As, he target each floor with firm searching. "She's here..I feel it." He quietly think, as he closes in on his suspect.

"Eva, Ava..whatever name she want to use tonight? Or just Black Assassin, she must be stopped." With each step he takes he's very alert to know that his life could end within a second. "Miss Bright, I'm aware you're the BLACK ASSASSIN..give yourself up and save us the trouble , of eradicating you!!" He yells with directness to the female experience shooter.

"You'll going to have to kill me, Dion!" Explaining that she holds all espionage operative to blame for her parents death. A death that left her alone to care for herself when no other understood her. "Bright, you have my friendship to see you through."

Comments, he makes as he step closer to his target, of choice. "You and your sister can depend on me." A comment that starts the alleged suspect to start laughing uncontrollable with laughter. "Something, I said?"

"Something you said and something you also believe." She replies with true seriousness. "You under the impression that Eva and Ava, are twins..when in reality we are the same people!" She states, as she comes behind doors firing, at the handsome looking agent, of ISS. Who is able to avoid her firing and fire off round striking the victim called, the Black Assassin?

"Finally an end to this mess!" Which, he states, as he looks, at the assassin behind the death, of many agents in the last months. "I'll be back..you should have killed me..because next time. I will kill you!!" Watching her being led, from the scene, by other agents. Who arrived later? He question her sanity.

Which is confirmed hours later, by the medical personnel, of the International Secret Service. "Insane?" "Some-think like that, Cassavettes. She been diagnosis with a split personality, by the doctors." "So Petrach, that explains, why I could never understand the change in their personality?"

"It explains more than that..the doctors feel her parent death has affective her to the point that she took on the role, of eliminating those she held to blame." The agency director speaks. "And that the agent or department they worked for." Cassavettes says with honesty. "Next time,,I won't judge a book, by her looks."

Whatever reason's she holds to be the truth.? Least the ISS , knows they have concluded a case that saw many friends, and associates die in the past months.